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you ate what? you cooked what?

Chinese New Year Just like at Grandma's

1/29/2017

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Hunan Fish Fillet
We visited Chin's Szechwan Cuisine for CNY dinner, you know for good luck for the coming year of the Chicken or Rooster. We had the requisite lucky foods, Hunan Fish Fillet, Shrimp Pan Fried Noodles, and Szechwan Garlic Eggplant. Fish for an increase in prosperity, noodles for happiness & longevity, and oranges for fullness and wealth. Although I've lived in Encinitas for over 9 years it's the first time I"ve ever eaten Chinese food there and the first time to visit Chin's which has been around since 1976. The food was old school Chinese/American/Szechwan style food. Portions were large and everything was really tasty.  Props to the waitstaff that was more than friendly and attentive. Overall it was a great first experience and for Maddie maybe her first official Chinese New Year kickoff dinner, so at least this year she'll get off to a good start! 
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Szechwan Garlic Eggplant
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Shrimp with pan fried noodles
The decor of Chin's was decidedly old school and quite elegant actually. It did have one item that made us both immediately remember dinners at grandma's. I think is a first generation characteristic that will soon be lost on the millennial generation. Their generation was the generation that came over to America on ships, they remember the depression, world war II, and having to scratch out a living while raising a family in a new country. They really valued the things that they had and they were proud to show it off and keep in in pristine condition. Everyone over the age of 50 will remember going to grandma's house in the summer and sticking to the furniture. Sturdy hardwood furniture with ornate brocade cushions covered in a thick clear vinyl slip covers. Seeing them in Chin's immediately made me think of all the holiday meals we had at grandma's house. Here's a toast to grandma especially on Chinese New Year where we take time out to think about and remember our ancestors. 

​S&M
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Thanks Grandma, We Love You!
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Close encounters of the Dumpling Kind

1/21/2017

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Xiao Long Bao (XLB)@ Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon
Last night Maddie and I visited Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon. It was her first encounter with traditional Chinese dumplings. Lately hipsters around the world have been stalking Xiao Long Bao (XLB).  If you're an Amazon Prime Video member watch Emeril Eats World and watch Emeril and Mario Batalli go to China to find the best Xiao Long Bao. Here in the U.S. Din Tai Fung is acknowledged as the best XLB, in fact it's outposts throughout the world are known for the best Chinese dumplings around. If you happen to be near one give it a try.  For the uninitiated (Maddie) there is a ritual to eating Chinese dumplings, especially XLB. 
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Fill your tiny dish with a little of each ingredient it's mandatory to add a little of each and be sure you use lots of fresh ginger. The ginger adds a distinct flavor and it cleanses the palate in between dumplings. Make sure you let your dumpling swim in the sauce for a bit to get it well coated.  For XLB there is a different way to eat them that involves a soup spoon, we'll get to that later. 
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Every dumpling house will have a tray of condiments, if they don't have one they are either posers and too hipster and you should run away immediately.  Typical condiments are soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, vinegar, Sambal Olek (Garlic/Chili Paste) Fresh sliced ginger is also a requirement, (I had to ask for some).  
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Shrimp & Chive Dumpling swimming in sauce
You will finds lots of blogs and even YouTube videos showing you how to properly eat XLB. Most of them will show people eating them with a soup spoon. Putting a bit of your dipping sauce concoction into the bottom of your spoon, then delicately using your chopsticks to gently place your XLB into your spoon. I am calling BS on all of these! There is no right or wrong way to eat a XLB do what makes you happy. I like to let my XLB swim in my sauce for a bit perhaps rolling it around (without breaking it) in the sauce then using my spoon I pick it up getting some sauce in the spoon at the same time. Some folks will tell you to bit a small hole in the dough to set the soup free and mix with the sauce-that's too complicated, just eat the whole thing in one bite, after all that's why they make it bite sized. If you go to get XLB with a group of Asians you'll notice that everyone waits a bit to dig into the XLB, they are waiting for it to cool a bit inside-this is a fine art and takes experience, if you put a XLB in your mouth when it is too hot, the soup will burn your tongue and you'll be screwed out of experiencing the full flavors of the rest of the meal. Don't make this rookie mistake, especially if it's a first date.
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Thanks for visiting our site. We hope you learn something and have some fun along the way. Everyone can lead a sustainable life and have fun with food without having to spend too much money. Traveling provides a glimpse into how others live and makes the world a smaller and friendlier place. Take a chance and try everything once, well maybe twice!
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​Steve & Maddie
Photo used under Creative Commons from Ah Wei (Lung Wei)
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